• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
As soon as it starts its joint venture operations with Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO), the Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power) will grant a month long amnesty program to those with illegal connections, its president, Roel Castro, announced on Thursday.
Castro estimates that there are more than 6,000 power pilferers within the CENECO coverage area, based on a survey conducted in previous months.
The drive is to make them legal and regular, he disclosed in a press briefing during a Power 101 and rate setting seminar held at a restaurant in Bacolod City.
If 10,000 or 20,000 will come forward, we are ready, because we have 30,000 new meters available, Castro said.
The month-long amnesty will be for both residential and even businesses, he stressed.
After the one month amnesty, Castro said they will start their operations against power pilferers.
Over the five years operations of More Power in Iloilo, the sister company of Negros Power, Castro reported that their electric consumers rose by more than 40 percent, increasing from 62,000 to 100,000.
The 25-year franchise sought by Negros Power, following its approval by Congress, is now in Malacañang, awaiting approval of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Castro said it is expected to lapse into law by the end of July, if it will not be signed or vetoed by the Chief Executive. But the Negros Power president and chief executive officer is hopeful that it will be signed by PBBM.
“By August 1, we are prepared to take over CENECO, with all the systems now in place.”
The temporary office and business center of NEGROS POWER is located at the second floor of Robinson’s East, along Burgos Avenue in Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod City.*
